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France reported an outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) in farmed piglets to the OIE on April 29, 2002. The outbreak is in the northeastern part of the country in the Lorraine region, close to Frances borders with Germany and Luxembourg. Frances last reported outbreak of CSF in farmed pigs was in 1993. On April 22, 2002, CSF was confirmed in a wild boar in the same region of the country.

CSF outbreaks have been reported recently in Luxembourg and in Germany near the French border. Other European countries reporting CSF outbreaks or evidence of infection in 2002 include Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Spain.

France has < 1% of world pig stocks or production of pig meat. The country is a small exporter of live pigs and pig meat. The USDA does not recognize France as free of CSF, therefore importations of swine origin products have been limited. The United States imported no live swine from France during 2001 and January through February 2002. During this time period, the US did import salted/dried/smoked swine meat, prepared swine meats, pig and hog skins, sausages, meat juice extracts, various parings of hides and skins, and animal products used chiefly as food for animals.

How extensive is the disease in the affected country, and what was the countrys disease status prior to the outbreak?

An outbreak of CSF in farmed piglets in France was reported to the OIE on April 29, 2002. Frances last reported outbreak of CSF in farmed pigs was in 1993. The current outbreak is in the northeastern part of the country in the Chemery-les-Deux district, Moselle department, Lorraine region (indicated by a black circle on the map). There were five cases among 395 piglets at the breeding farm. The affected piglets died and the remainder were destroyed. The outbreak occurred within an observation zone, set up around a CSF infected wild boar zone. The infected and observation zones were established on April 22, 2002, after CSF was confirmed in a wild boar found dead earlier that month. The location of the infected wild boar was Basse-Rengten (indicated by a blue square on the map).

Control measures instituted by France for this outbreak include: stamping out, establishment of a 3 km radius protection zone and a 10 km radius surveillance zone around the outbreak, and a ban on the exportation of pigs and wild boars from the departments of Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle to the rest of France and to other countries. The USDA does not recognize France as free of CSF.

Source: OIE Disease Information Report

What is the recent CSF situation in other European countries?

CSF outbreaks have been reported recently in Luxembourg and Germany. Both countries share borders with France near where the current outbreak is reported. Luxembourg reported outbreaks of CSF among wild boar in the eastern part of the country in late 2001, and then in February-April, 2002 four outbreaks of CSF among farmed pigs (breeding, fattening, and pre-fattening piglets) in eastern, southern and northern parts of the country were reported. Prior to these outbreaks, Luxembourgs last outbreak of CSF among farmed pigs was in 1987. Germany has reported five outbreaks of CSF since January 2002 at pig farms in the Rheinland-Pfalz region (see map). The first four outbreaks occurred in an endangered zone established because of CSF in wild boar; however, the fifth outbreak occurred outside the endangered zone. The Rheinland-Pfalz region of Germany also experienced three CSF outbreaks in October 2001.

Other European countries reporting CSF outbreaks or evidence of infection in 2002 include Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Spain. In April, Romania reported a CSF outbreak on a smallholding in the western part of the country. Bulgaria reported an outbreak of CSF in March among fattening pigs. Then on April 17, Bulgarias farm ministry reported CSF outbreaks in 12 of the countrys 28 regions, indicating that a major epidemic of CSF was occurring. In March, Slovenia reported the detection of antibodies against classical swine fever virus in three samples out of fourteen taken from wild boars during a monitoring program. In January 2002, at least two outbreaks of CSF occurred in Catalonia, Spain, in continuation of Spains CSF outbreak which began in June 2001.

Sources: OIE Disease Information Reports, Agworldwide, Animal Network

What is the countrys production and trade in affected animals and animal products?

France had nearly 15 million hogs and produced a little more than 2 million metric tons of pig meat in both 2000 and 2001 (table 1). Both of these amounts were < 1% of world stocks or production. France is a small exporter of live pigs and pig meat (table 2). The majority of live animal exports went to Italy while the majority of meats were exported to Spain. In regards to exports to non-EU countries, French pork exports to Russia declined significantly in 2000, due to cuts in EU export restitutions. Shipments to Japan and South Korea increased, although stayed low compared with shipments to Russia.

Table 1: Production of swine and pig meat, France, 2000 - 2001

Swine Production

2000

2001

production

production

% of world production

Live stocks (# head)

14,682,000

14,635,000

0.02%

Pig meat (mt)

2,312,000

2,254,600

0.02%

Table 2: Exports of live pigs and pig meat, France, 1999 - 2000

Exports

1999

2000

quantity

(# head or mt)

value

(1000 $)

quantity

(# head or mt)

value

(1000 $)

Live pigs

328,360 head

26,283

254,136 head

28,743

Pig meat

570,493 mt

942,802

552,260 mt

1,000,382

Sources: FAO,FAS GAIN Report #FR1008 1/30/2001

What are the US, Canadian, and Mexican imports of affected animals or animal products from the country?

Due to the USDA not recognizing France as free of CSF, the US imported no live swine from France during 2001 and January through February 2002. During this time period, the US did import salted/dried/smoked swine meat, prepared swine meats, and pig and hog skins (table 3). In addition, sausages, meat juice extracts, various parings of hides and skins, and animal products used chiefly as food for animals were imported. These products were not labeled as specifically being of swine origin; however, they were categorized as meat and since the US has banned most products of cattle, sheep, and goat origin from European countries due to BSE risk, these products are likely of swine origin.

Table 3: US Imports of Swine Meat and Other Swine Products from France

Product

2001

January  February 2002

quantity

quantity

Meat

Salted, dried, smoked meat of swine (kg)

155,423

20,340

Salted, dried, smoked meat and offal (kg)

4,991

0

Cooked meat of swine, boned (kg)

120

2,114

Sausages, canned (kg)

1,921

289

Extracts and juices of meat (kg)

6,602

0

Hides and Skins

Pig and hog skins (pieces)

4

0

Other products of animal origin

Parings and similar wastes raw hides or skins, gluestock (kg)

230,737

11,793

Products chiefly used as food for animals or as ingredients in such food (kg)

26,715

0

Animal products unfit for human consumption (kg)

4,641

48

While Canada did import 122 live swine from France during January through February 2002, the animals would not have come from the region where the current CSF outbreak is occurring. Canada has regionalized France recognizing some areas as free of CSF. The Moselle region, where the current outbreak is occurring, was not in the area recognized as free of CSF. Canada also imported similar quantities and types of swine meat and other products as the US during 2001 and early 2002. Mexico imported no live swine in 2001 and reported small quantities of imported swine meat from France during 2001.

Source: World Trade Atlas

What is the level of passenger traffic arriving in the United States from the affected country?

A total of 2,530,172 passengers arrived on direct flights to the US from France in fiscal year 2000. This number does not include passengers who arrived in the US from France via indirect flights.

As part of APHIS-PPQs agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring, 6845 air passengers from France were sampled for items of agricultural interest in fiscal year 2000. Of these passengers, 274 were carrying a total of 95.6 kg of pork items that could potentially harbor the CSF virus. In addition, these 274 passengers were carrying a total of 215.4 kg of non-specific meat items. Eight of the passengers with pork or meat items reported plans to visit or work on a ranch or farm while in the US. Reported destinations of these 8 passengers were Louisiana, Montana, and Florida.

As of May 2, 2002, CEI has no plans for further reporting on CSF in France. If you seek more information or wish to comment on this worksheet, please reply by e-mail or contact Vicki Bridges at (970) 490-7822.